While we wait for Nash, etc. …

Free agency week slowed to a crawl … and I honestly don’t know what is going to create that flurry of activity we were expecting after the first dominoes (Zach Parise and Ryan Suter) fell.

Unlike some of the speculation here yesterday, I don’t think the Rangers are out of it for Rick Nash. I could be completely wrong, but I think the process calls for Glen Sather to wait out Scott Howson, and he’s probably the best in the business at doing that.

Meantime, we’re into July and the dog days of summer, so if anybody has anything they want to say in a guest blog post, this is as good a time as any. If you’re interested, please e-mail me at rcarpini@lohud.com.

444 Comments

Seriously, its time for Glen to put the pedal to the metal on this. Offer MDZ with Dubinsky, Miller, Thomas, 1st(again) and see if Howson agrees(finally). You have Erixon who will be even better imo as an all around dman, and you could always sign a Coliacovo/Campoli type for a year. You can’t say we want your star but you can’t have any of our top 5-6 players, you have to be fair as well.

And that’s why none of us is a GM. Patience. Not to mention, this is one of those teams we had that if we don’t do anything going forward this summer, I’d be OK. Certainly would prefer that instead of gutting this team out.

And can we please stop with “Dubinsky- rehab” BC? Don’t remember who brought it up initially on the blog, but this is a serious accusation and it shouldn’t be mentioned casually. Unless, of course, you “sit in the first row next to Sather”….

Your moniker should be opuckoff! How dare you accuse some of being in rehab without any proof?

If you have any, let’s hear it. If you don’t, shut the puck up! The kid just got married. You know these types of false rumors can hurt him, his parents, friends and his new wife. You should be ashamed of yourself!

Sather should package a deal to send Del Zotto and Dubinski – 2 Ranger full Tim players – or Anisimov. Two of the three Miller, McIlrath, Skjei. And the rights to Zucc!!! Boy when you type that its alot. It’s three 1st rounders. The top player in the AHL that would be a top 6 scorer the CBJ and Dubinski which would be a 25-25 player for them as well. That would work for New York. That’s a huge package for Columbus to rebuild around, everyone of those players could grow into a starting role with them. It would be win win for teams.

I know it was reported by someone on the internet that Howson was no longer asking for one of or two of stepan, Mcdonagh and Kreider but I don’t believe it. I still think Howson wants one of those players and that’s why Sather is looking elsewhere. I think the Nash saga will go on, maybe until September or even longer if there is a strike. I still think Howson is playing hard ball with Nash and why his asking price is high because he wants to force Nash into expanding his list.

At this point I would expect the Rangers to go straight after Shane Doan and forget about Nash. they’ll pay him more than we are comfortable with and for longer, but at this point why do anything for Nash when in 2 days an UFA we are interested in will listen?

jbeck, I mean, ohpuck, you are really toeing a dangerous line. consider this a warning.

This notion that the Rangers need to hurry up for Nash is ludicrous. the more they wait, the more likely they get him for less.

and as for Doan, while I think he’d be a great fit, his No. 1 priority (starting Monday) will be to stay in Phoenix. His next priority will be to get as many years for as much money as he can. They won’t get him, for example, for one year, $6 million. Both numbers will be higher.

There is a reason why Nash’s “list” consists of teams that have been or will be perrenial contenders for the Cup. He wants to win the cup or at least have a legitimate chance at winning it. Expanding the list will only make it easier for Howso to do what he needs to do without any regard for what Nash wants. Nash probably thinks that after spending nine years of losing and being an outstanding pilar of the community, he has earned the chance to win . Some would argue that he gets paid very well for what he has to “suffer” through, and that’s true, he does. But in his mind, trading him eases the financial burden on the CBJ and also gives them the prospects and young players they need to rebuild their franchise. I think that is a very thoughtful and very professional position to take by what is clearly a first class individual who obviously really wants to come to the Rangers. And if the price is right, we should be honored and proud to have him. It is also so refreshing to know that someone wants to come to the Rangers not for the money, but because we offer him one of his best chances to win the Cup. We sure have come a long way as a franchise.

The other problem with Doan, on top of money/length of contract/staying West, is that he really doesn’t solve their scoring issues. It’s a great supplementary, run for the Cup move, but not your prototypical first line winger.

Addition by subtraction ( Nash for players) isn’t always the best move , you delete your depth and how do you rebuild your depth ?
With unproven draft picks ? And you’re still going to be a Cup contender ?

I still say I rather see the rangers do nothing and go into the season with what they have and if they take a step backwards this season so be it because next years free agency class will be a whole lot better and the rangers can fill holes without giving up young players/prospects.

After witnessing the results of the Parise / Suter market, I would be extremely leery if I were a GM who had an “in their prime, superstar” player entering the final year of his contract. If I were unable to sign that player before the start of training camp, I would explore the trade market. I would not want to lose an asset with value and receive nothing in return.

Conversely, perhaps Sather should ( if he hasn’t already) start calling around to inquire about the availability of the superstar players entering the final year of their contracts. There are two possible benefits; first, there may be a more attractive player/deal to made; second, he counters the leverage that Howsen seems to have ( or believes he has ) in “waiting for the best deal”.

There are certainly attractive big name players due to hit the UFA market next summer. I am sure Sather can put a package together to complete a sign and trade.

My intention here is not to throw criticism at Sather. I think he has shown the necessary restraint so far. I guess I would be surprised if they ( Sather’s team) hasn’t started to contact other GM’s at this point.

If we end up doing nothing, is it not better than doing something we regret?

Doan is R winger who can fill in on that side while Gaborik is sidelined. And then what? He is a career .25 GPG player, not an offensive threat by any stretch. This team isn’t lacking leadership, adding someone with over 35 multi-year contract at $6M per year isn’t the best move

Today on Puck and Gavel, an interview with Joe Cobb, one of the named plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Glendale to invalidate the city ordinance to give the City Manager and City Clerk the authority to enter into a 20 year lease and arena management agreement for the jobing.com arena. Mr. Cobb is also one of the leaders in seeking sufficient signatures to get a referendum on the ordinance placed on the November ballot.

Carp if you read what I wrote you see I wasn’t accusing anyone but if I am howson I have to take that report seriously wether true or not I need to look into it. And czechthemout why isn’t the guy who reported it being sued?

And did someone say better off without Nash your insane. Your right we’re better without a 35-40 goal scorer. On a team that lacked scoring.

And carp don’t call me by that asshats name. I have not disrespected you. If you don’t like what I post well that’s a problem considering this is a public blog.

You should know better then anyone that howson has to take that into consideration. If the report is true and he recieves dubi’s contract and the black eye only not only is he a laughing stock of the league, he loses his job and there will be no one waiting to hire him.

there was no report that I’m aware of, ohpuck. if there was, please link to it. some complete jackwagon came on here with that out-of-nowhere accusation the other day. so don’t be another jackwagon and repeat it.

I don’t believe it’s who howson wants that stopping the deal it’s who he don’t want that is. I am almost positive he doesn’t want dubi back in a deal. 4 mil for a player who was injured and scored what 12 goals last year isn’t to appealing to a team trading it’s francise player.

Ranger fans would kill sather if he would trade a gabby or staal or a McDonagh for a package the rangers are offering. And here’s the biggest problem CLB second best player is r.j umberger yes the same guy that couldn’t crack the ranger roster a few years back.

The rangers could atleast fall back on Richards, king Hank, girardi, stepan and krieder. I could not take back dubi’s 4 without taking major hits from the fans. Wether rumors are true or not fans are all to quick to judge.

While I DON’T believe the rumors are true. Could you take the chance if your howson? Without using your ranger bias could you put you career on the line with this trade. Now remember lose the ranger bias. I’m looking at this clearly from a bluejackets point of veiw.

I forgot the contract specifics but I believe Philly released him and the rangers signed him to a tryout or something he played some preseason with them and was released. The ranger roster 3 or 4 years ago was to good to keep him ( sarcasm )

Lol ok carp, your harmless anyway. When you start getting things right then we can have our fight. Still waiting on parise in a rangers jersey, and suter in a wings jersey. For someone who covers the rangers your followers are more insightful then you. You should check with their sources your’s are failing you

I said I didn’t remember the specifics I have a life I don’t sit around a computer all day looking up stats and specifics. I don’t claim to know all about hockey but my point was made the rangers had him did they not YES. Did he make their roster NO. Point proven.

The Rangers had his rights for a couple of months when the Canucks couldn’t sign him out of college. Never signed, tried out or anything as a Ranger as far as I recall and the Flyers signed him as a UFA.

wait so was the reason the Rangers didn’t try to sign RJ Umberger because they thought he was a great fit and just forgot to offer him a contract or did they allow the Flyters to negotiate their deals in those days. he was only around for a couple of months so maybe they didn’t know what he looked like

A lot of speculations around RJ. He couldn’t agree on the Contract with Vancouver. The Rangers obtained his rights for Rucinsky. Some say Sather never wanted to sign him, but all he wanted is a compensation pick ( 2nd rounder, the used it later to move in draft and selected Korpikosky). He practiced with Hartford a little and was never offered a contract.

LMAO keep believing I’m jbeck asshat but as usual you’d be wrong just like on everything else you report. So atleast your consistent, I’m no coward like you I don’t sit behind a computer and play pretend reporter or tough guy. And oh no forgive me if I could careless about my grammar on a BS blog that some loser started bc he needs to feel love and attention. Your just simply pathetic. Try reporting something right you might be taken seriously then.

Btw you ever need any construction work done hit me up. I’ll charge you half price since it is my business and I pity you. And if you can get something right then it’ll be free. And genius the money had nothing to do with not signing parise it was bc he didn’t want to play in ny. I thought a ranger beat writer would be smart enough to know that. Aren’t you close to the rangers lol you are just putrid.

Ohp-dizzle is right in regard to R.J. There was some brief dance between the Rangers and him. This may have been pre-lockout before he played for the Flyers? I cannot remember the details but there was something. Whatever it was, they didn’t sign him.

Yeah, the Umberger story was that they obtained his rights and at the time there was a ton of debate on other forums about the kid – he was a pretty high pick I think and many of us thought he should be signed but I think there were reports of him being a less than model teammate or citizen or both and that’s why Slats passed on him. There were also reports that Slats knew he wouldnt sign with the Rangers but wanted the pick. Nonetheless, in much of the blogosphere people believe Umberger was actually a guy the Rangers could have signed back in 2004 or so and ythat Slats blew it on him. But the notion that he didn’t make the Rangers is absurd, he tortured us that very season as a Flyers rookie.

call howson offer stepan and dubi and get nash already. i decided i want to move step now. guys like nash and ryan dont come around too often. there diff makers. what do most of you think stepan ceiling will be. he had 1 goal in last 25 games and his playoff production was mediocre. i knows hes young and has potential to be a 70 pt guy but thats with playing with the likes of a nash and a ryan which the rangers dont have.

He is right that the was some connection, but totally wrong about what actually happened. Here is a tidbit from Hockey’s Future( 2004):

The Vancouver Sun had reported that the Canucks had offered Umberger 20 percent less in salary to what they had signed 2003 first round selection Ryan Kesler (23rd overall). The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported in March that Umberger and Lawton turned down a three-year offer of $625,000, $650,000 and $675,000 base salaries with a $700,000 signing bonus from Vancouver.

Ultimately, both sides abandoned negotiations, and Umberger’s season was left in limbo.

The Canucks dealt Umberger’s rights to the New York Rangers at the trade deadline, in a deal that sent veteran forward Martin Rucinsky to British Columbia. Rangers GM Glen Sather publicly stated that he wanted to sign the talented center on numerous occasions.

Some observers continue to question Sather’s sincerity with regards to this matter. Umberger did travel briefly with the Rangers and practiced with their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, late in the season. However, an official contract offer was never made.

The Rangers lost Umberger’s rights by failing to sign him by the June 1 deadline, but they will receive a second round selection (46th overall) in the upcoming entry draft as compensation. Many feel that obtaining this pick was Sather’s sole intention all along.

RJ never tried out with the Rangers. In March of 2004 they traded for his rights but ended up opting not to sign him as explained above and in June of 2004 he signed with Philly as a free agent. Exactly when could he have tried out for the Rangers then?

For Nash? No, please. Switch MDZ and AA and replace Miller with any one of the following: Fast, St. Croix, another 1st, a second, Lindberg, Erixon or a fashion photo shoot be Avery.

Having Erixon instead of MDZ would not kill the team. Losing Miller would not be the end of the world, but I would rather keep MDZ over Erixon. Would also like to keep Miller. Could end up being what we thought Dubi was going to be, and in fairness could still be it was just one poor season.

Also, could we get Iggy for less in a trade than Nash? If so, is it realistic to think we could sign him for 2-4 years around 4.5 or 5? Or is that just crazy talk?

eric that leaves us woefully thin at center and gets us no more goals than Dubi and step will combine for this year. Would never do that trade. The Rangers should only move on Nash if it is entirely on their terms. No problem going into the season close to as is right now.

thanks ilb i stand corrected on that last point. Whatever the argument now is, I dont think at the time anyone truly believed Sather was after the pick and most of us felt Sather had blown it, which he was famous for in 2004.

Funny, that the Flyers traded him to Columbus in 2008 for 1st and 3rd rounders. They got Spisa and Bourdon respectively. Spisa was later packaged in a deal that brought Pronger from Anaheim. Bourdon’s MZA was kicked bu Prust this year (very classy by Prust, btw, he stopped throwing them after he hurt Bourdon). Prust is now in Montreal. All RJ’s fault! :-)

If we have to give up Stepan, would rather give him up for Ryan than Nash. Who plays second line center? Hags played Center in Michigan, right? Could he do it? If either AA or Dubi remains, I gues they could fill that role but neither has shown to be consistently effective there. Steps has run hot and cold as well but, unless I am having a selective memory bout, Step has faired better than both AA and Dubi. Does the scoring depth or Ryan make up for Step or does it get cancelled out because there’s no pivot for Ryan, Cally, Kreider, whoever is on the second line?

CARP–I must comment that this blog seems to have less flamers posting than most others. One goofball does not spoil it. I think it is vacation time now for a lot of the team’s management. It might be quiet for awhile now.

the whole problem with the Nash deal is that his worth is predicated entirely on the belief that he’ll be better on a better team. I don’t necessarily like overpaying for guys who are viewed as having not been able to reach their potential. And if you base purely on past performance, best case scenario you’re getting a guy who has cracked 40 goals twice and is for all intents and purposes a 60-point forward. And I have no problem with adding one to a team that could certainly use one, but to overpay for him doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

kreider and mac are untocuhables. so is stepan according to rangers the only way this deal gets done is by inlcuding step. it doesnt seem either will blink howson or sather and in the end nash will be else where and so will ryan and you cant let step be the reason

Yup, Iginla was taken off the market (if he even was there) after Crawford + a couple of signings. Anything else- I don’t see any compelling reasons to rush. How many time has it happened before that most of us can agree that going into next season with what we have now is far from a worse case scenario?

IMO Stanley Cup contenders are strong down the middle…having impressive Wings is nice but it’s important to be quality with the Center position.

Richards/Step/Boyle is a solid top 3…if NYR decide to steal Stepan for Nash their center position is in trouble. 22 year old center iceman with play-making ability are hard to find. I want Rich Nash on this team but not at the price of Derek Stepan.

NYS laws confuse the hell outta me sometimes. Trying to change a driver’s license is like attempting to wrangle a school of sharks. It’s frustrating and very dangerous.

Anywho… reading up on the blog today….

We’re arguing about RJ Hamburgular?? PUH LEEEZEEEEEEEEE.

The whole Dubi in rehab thing was posted on twitter by some nitwit known as HockeyyInsiderr. And NOT reported anywhere else or confirmed by anyone in the actual know if the game. So it’s a bunch of hogwash, IMO.

The longer this Nash thing drags out, the more I think he’s stays in Columbus, very unhappily and quite possibly, he might even refuse to report to camp. That would void his contract, but if it gets him outta Columbus and as a free agent, I could see that happening.

Trading Stepan would be dumb dumb dumb. There is no one else on the team capable of playing top or 2nd line center (after Richards of course). I like AA, but I think he’s more of a 3rd liner center who has offensive skills. Trading Steps would leave them woefully thin at center in terms of skill.

In the same vein, trading ANY defenseman would be insanely stupid. There is NO such thing as TOO many Dmen and after Torts only used 4.5 D the entire playoffs, I would say we lack QUALITY back there, not quantity. Don’t deplete that stock until we know for sure that these players CAN be NHL quality dmen and that Torts trusts them.

while he may be being overrated a little, his value to the team (as it is built right now), is not. the Rangers do not have anybody on the roster who could step in and do the job Stepan does. Anisimov has failed a few different times trying to be the number 2 center, and Dubi as the number 2 excites no one. unless you are going outside the organization to get a number 2 center, you really cannot afford to trade Stepan.

I disagree that it is ok to stand pat this summer. I love the team’s black and blue idnetity but dont want another season relying on shot blocking to grind out 2-1 wins and I’m glad neither does Torts. Going into next season without adding an offensive impact player is a failure.

Trade Stepan and MDZ for Nash. Would not trade Stepan if we were rebuilding but Dubi is fully capable of playing 2nd line center. If Columbus doesn’t accept that trade then screw them and sign Semin. Those aren’t perfect options but they are the best options for this team at this time.

By waiting you may miss out on both. Waiting is often a good negotiating strategy, but not always, and not here.

Matteau, you and I both know this team’s focus needs to be getting Prust back in a Ranger uniform no matter what the cost – and that includes sending Kreider to Montreal and giving “Prustie” an immediate 13-year extension and $10 million signing bonus. This team will not, I repeat, not contend without a grinding 4th-line.

And I’m not sorry to say that I don’t think that Nash is that much of a difference maker. He’s a good player, with a skill set the team needs, but at the cost of 3 players, a pick and a prospect? No way. He’s not Skid or Datsyuk.

Personally, I am beginning to think that Howson has no desire to trade Nash to NY.

If he WAS this great difference maker, he would have made the Jackets a better team. Or at least more competitive. He’s a good player, who was given an insane contract by an incompetent GM and ownership, who were desperate to keep a ‘name’ as part of the franchise.

On paper, Gaborik is a better forward than Nash. As I mentioned earlier, this idea that Nash is a great forward has more to do with what people will think he’ll do once he’s on a team better than Columbus.

I just don’t see how “hurrying up” helps the Rangers get the best deal for Nash. They can wait until training camp, or the lockout, whichever comes first.

I agree that Gaborik might be a better player than Nash. Doesn’t mean the Rangers need somebody like Nash in addition to Gaborik to take the next step. Too bad they’ve never drafted anybody like that in our lifetimes.

If Howson won’t give us Nash for an overpay right now, I think we should add even more of an overpay so Howson will do it now. That’s how to build the best team that will start playing in 3 or more months.

It won’t be easy re: Avery as 22 other teams also want him….looking at Suter type money – which is why jp’s kid drew little ranger interest – slats needed the cap space for the greatest winger in ranger history

if I shut it down, jbeck, what are you going to do with all your spare time … you know, when you’re not making major decisions for the Rangers’ front office and making poorly spelled, poorly punctuated, poor-grammar comments?

besides, what will i do for love and attention if I don’t have this blog?

I love it when people don’t follow what should be the most basic tenet of the Internet: if it is something you wouldn’t say directly to a person’s face, then saying it via the Internet is inappropriate and hiding behind the Internet. Really easy to type stuff into the computer and walk away.

Except for this ungodly heat wave i’m doing well Mickey & e3 thanks for asking. Oh how I ♥ this place. Carp we don’t find these clowns they find this blog cause its the best Rangers blog hands down even Howlings thinks it is ;)) Btw Mickey how is your Dad’s recovery going ?

I did, evrock, and I apologize for my inability to get to the post office … previous contest winners can attest, it takes a while but eventually I will get my asham over there and you’ll get your prize. I promise.

Noooooooo!! I didn’t care if you sent me anything. I just wanted to make sure you got it and the big thank you! Oh, and the invite to dinner next time you get yer asham down here. Though if the season starts too late it just might not happen since, once again, all the games down here are over before the calendar turns 2013 years old.

red state…I was pretty stoked about because I love kevin smith (even though he is a devils fan) and I almost shut it off when I was watching it on dvd. The first part of the movie was pretty monotonous and I was losing interest quick, but as soon as john goodman gets the phone call (about half way through) the movie is great from there.

another experience….A colleague of mine while a student at UCLA worked as a pizza delivery guy …..and one time he was sent to Harry Nilsson’s house in the hills and he saw John Lennon walk buy…..john was there during his “lost weekend”